Course curator Michael Hayden shows the drainage works that will boost availability of the Terang racecourse.
TERANG and District Racing Club will be better positioned to host transferred meetings in the late autumn and early spring following drainage works at the track.
The project is worth more than $100,000 and is thanks to funding from Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria, as well as a contribution from the club.
Club manager Karen Van Kempen said the substantial drainage work, which started after the Easter Saturday meeting, would improve the racing surface significantly.
She said the track was set at one of the lowest points in Terang, meaning it was subject to retaining moisture in the ground during the winter periods.
Terang and District Racing Club was forced to transfer its cup meeting to Warrnambool in October 2009 after a stewards’ inspection uncovered wet patches on its track.
The recent drainage works will ensure the club is better positioned to host transferred meetings in the late autumn and early spring in future seasons.
Van Kempen said the club was pleased with the investment the industry was placing in Terang, with the draining project grant following on from the installation of plastic running rails.
She said the club was experiencing one of its highest number of trainers using the facility and highlighted the recent addition of in-form Warrnambool father-son combination Bill and Symon Wilde, who have committed to a long-term satellite stable at Terang.